How Kaepernick, other celebrities are addressing COVID-19’s racial disparity
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is among a handful of celebrities doing their part to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Black and other minority communities.
In a video posed his Twitter account Thursday, the ex-athlete-turned-activist announced that he’d donated $100,000 to a special relief fund started via his organization to help the communities hardest hit by the fast spreading virus.
“Structural racism makes Black & Brown ppl more likely to die from #COVID19. We’ve launched the Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund to directly impact the disproportionate effect #coronavirus is having on our communities,” Kaepernick wrote, followed by the hashtag #WeGotUs.
His tweet was accompanied by a video message encouraging others to join efforts to address the disparities, an issue Kaepernick argues is the result of “hundreds of years of structural racism.”
Recent reports have shown that Black Americans are not only more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, but are more likely to die from it as well. An analysis of state and local data published by the Associated Press this month found that over 30 percent of those who’ve died from coronavirus are Black, even though they make up just 13 percent of the population in the areas that were covered.
Several cities including Detroit, New Orleans and New York City have seen similar disparities. In Chicago for instance, almost 70 percent of the city’s coronavirus-related deaths have been African-Americans, the Chicago Tribune reports. Black people only account for about 30 percent of the city’s population, however.
There have also been unequal rates of COVID-19 deaths among Latino New Yorkers, who are 29 percent of the city’s population but comprise 34 percent of the coronavirus fatalities, according to the AP, citing preliminary data released by City Hall.
Kaepernick isn’t alone in his efforts to shed light on the disparities. Fellow celebs including Chicago’s Chance the Rapper and “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino are among the stars pitching in to help those in their communities.
Chance and Barrino will appear in an upcoming broadcast special on BET titled “Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort.” The special, set to air at 8 p.m. EST on April 22 , will be co-hosted by Terrence J, actress Regina Hall, “Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, according to the network.
The show will also feature virtual performances by Usher, John Legend, H.E.R., Alicia Keys and many more.
Like Kaepernick, BET has also launched a COVID-19 relief fund in collaboration with United Way Worldwide to support African Americans hit hard by the growing pandemic, CNN reported.
“Every day, there are new reports of how this pandemic is killing African Americans at much higher rates than other communities,” BET president Scott Mills told the outlet in a statement. “BET is using all our resources -- our capital, our media platforms, our relationships with the creative community, sponsors, businesses and charitable organizations to support our community in this time of crisis.”
Know Your Rights Camp, the organization launched by Kaepernick, notes that a number of factors are to blame for the gap, including discrimination in healthcare, housing, employment and other areas that can lead to disparate health outcomes.
According to its website, the group’s goal is “to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.”
As of Friday, the COVID-19 fund had amassed over $150,000 in donations, according to the group’s website.
Other celebrities who are doing their part include writer Frederick Joseph, who raised close to $300,000 via his #RentRelief campaign aiding those in need of financial help amid the pandemic, Blavity reports.
Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson and wife Ciara have donated one million meals through Food LifeLine, gospel artist Lecrae helped install portal sinks from the homeless across Atlanta, Georgia and “Truth Hurts” singer Lizzo purchased lunch for dozens of hospital workers in Seattle, Washington.